Help! Help! I'm Being Stolen!

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.synchronica.com/press/releases/060901-its-a-scream.html' target='_blank'>http://www.synchronica.com/press/re...s-a-scream.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"According to the Metropolitan Police figures, 10,000 mobile phones are stolen every month. But a new service from mobile device management company Synchronica (<a href="www.synchronica.com">www.synchronica.com</a>) aims to help victims of theft strike back. Synchronica's mobile phone management software Mobile Manager can remotely lock and wipe data from mobile phones as soon as their owners report the loss. If the phone has been stolen, companies can also turn on the Synchronica Scream Feature, causing an annoying and embarrassing high pitched wail to be emitted from the stolen device."</i><br /><br /><img src=http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060903-Scream.jpg><br /><br />An interesting idea akin to the device security features introduced into Windows Mobile 5 (i.e. the S in the MSFP). While I think a thief would certainly find a screaming phone annoying, no mention is made about any kind of locking battery door that would prevent a quick battery removal. Or maybe a secret battery to keep the scream alive? :twisted:

[BugDude10]

Wow, this would be particularly embarassing if it was coming from a phone you were smuggling in your bowel... 8O

[Trane]

I like the idea but would be concerned that an annoying noise, even intermittent, would result in the device being thrown away (as defective) or destroyed (as annoying and attention drawing). Neither of which get me my device back.

Something similiar was recently mentioned on Jason Langridge's weblog. Ultimate Theft Alert v3 http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2006/08/21/709617.aspx

Looks like the comments on the linked article also include another: http://smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10553&amp;highlight=eye+theif

Both of these are trained on your SIM card, so that if a different SIM is loaded it will automatically send an SMS to a number you select. Then you'll have the phone number of whoever stole your device and a lot better chance of the police retrieving it for you.

Now to have both features, data deleting and SMS notice with optional device locking... that would be awesome.

- Trane

[Jon Westfall]

Wow, this would be particularly embarassing if it was coming from a phone you were smuggling in your bowel... 8O

Ed &amp; I didn't plan to have the posts run at the same time, but I suppose as your comment points out, some posts just belong together :twisted:

[Jon Westfall]

I like the idea but would be concerned that an annoying noise, even intermittent, would result in the device being thrown away (as defective) or destroyed (as annoying and attention drawing). Neither of which get me my device back.

Hmm, good point. However if given the choice between the following (with no choice for "I get the device back"):

A. Thief tosses my device out
B. Thief uses / sells my device

I'd rather take A. If I can't have it back, then no one should have it!

[Darius Wey]

Now we wait for the arrival of the pepper spray phone.

[The One Eyed Man]

What about using LBS (works like terrestrial GPS) to locate the phone and update a web page? This could be an add-on from the wireless carriers, akin to handset protection.

http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6299485.html?spacedesc=Features

This of course assumes that security and privacy issues are hashed out in advance....

By using LBS + IMEI (SIM-independent) to post location data periodically, a couple of services could be offered by the provider through this mechanism (assuming no patent infringement with existing 3rd-party services that currently overlap this space):

- Find my phone (both theft prevention as well as lost device -- possibly combine with SIM monitoring described above).
- E911 (LBS interface exists today -- I propose that E911 should shift to use the same infrastructure and interface)
- Where is my kid?
- Vehicle (and fleet management) / Container / Asset tracking
- Simplify mobile ATM logistics
- Remote surveillance
- Simplify service and maintenance logistics where physical location may change

[GerManager]

Hey, we have really great antitheft soft (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=198446&amp;R=198446#description3url), it gives you full control over any inserted sim-card and tells you via sms or email if smartphone or ppc is stolen. You can get all logs of calls and sms of the thief, imagine!

[Cybrid]

Now we wait for the arrival of the pepper spray phone.
Awww. That'd require a large amount of space in the phone that could be better devoted to battery.

You could electrify the casing...Wouldn't kill but would be quite entertaining to watch... :lol: